Shakti guides New Horizon into semis

Feb 06, 2015 | Eddie Van Brooks |

Shakti Gauchan made an emotional comeback as New Horizon College of Butwal dispatched defending champions Pentagon International College of Kathmandu by 44 runs in the fourth SPA Cup on Friday. They will meet Sunshine College of Butwal on Saturday'stitle clash.

Shakti was the talk of the town, who took to the field just one hour after his arrival following hours of long drive after completing the final rites of his deceased father. After New Horizon posted a challenging 155 all out in 19.5 overs, Shakti picked up two crucial wickets to break Penatgon's backbone before they were skittled out for just 111 in 16.1 overs.

Sagar Pun gave Pentagon a strong reply when he scored all the 40 runs of the opening wicket partnership with Naresh Budhayer, who was out for a seven-ball duck. But Saurav Khanal dismissed both the openers in a space of three balls and one run to bring New Horizon back in the match.

Sagar smashed 40 off 16 with eight fours and a six. Sompal Kami then dismissed Anil Mandal (five) reducing Pentagon to 46-3. It soon became 47-4 after Shakti removed danger man Binod Bhandari (two) – who had two half centuries in two matches -- in his first ball of the tournament.

Rahul Prajapti got rid of Mehboob Alam (11) and Saurav's dismissal of Pushpa Thapa (13) sent Pentagon into a deep hole. Shakti struck again, this time bowling set batsman Rajesh Pulami Magar for 24 that all but ended Pentagon's stake in the game. Rajesh made 24 off 28 with two fours and a six.

Man-of-the-match Shakti picked up 3-11 from three overs with Saurav taking 3-16 from three. Sompal's figures read 2-29 from 3.1. Rupesh Bastola also had one scalp.

Earlier, Sandip Sunar and Nurdhoj Sen opened with a 52-run partnership. New Horizon though were not able to get big partnerships after that, some modest contributions helped them post a challenging total. Nurdhoj made 33 off 29 and Sandip scored 29 off 23. Both batsmen hit five fours and a six.

Susan Bhari Shrestha (16 off eight), Rupesh (16 off nine), Saurav (13) and Prakash KC (10) also made runs in double figures. Rahul Kumar BK picked up 4-15 for Pentagon, while Sagar Pun (3-39) and Nischal Pandey (2-31) had five scalps between them.